South Dakota Crimes: Laws & Penalties

If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime in South Dakota, you'll want as much information as possible about the crime and
its consequences. What does the prosecutor have to prove in order to
get a conviction? What's the sentence; is it a range, and what factors
might affect a judge's decision to impose a lower or higher sentence?
Most importantly, are there any legally recognized defenses to this
charge?

The articles on this page give you this information for specified South Dakota crimes. If you want to read the laws themselves, you'll find
citations to them (see "Looking Up the Law," below, for tips on how to
find the law online). But most of the time, our summaries will give you
what you need.

Be sure to understand that no legal article is a substitute for a
knowledgeable criminal defense attorney, who regularly practices in your
area. The "letter of the law" is only your strating point. Working with
your attorney, you should come to understand how the amount and quality
of the evidence in your case will affect your options, which may range
from attempting to get the case dismissed, to negotiating a plea, to
going to trial.

All states regulate the possession of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), though each differs in its exact definition of CDS and the penalties for illegal personal possession. South Dakota classifies not only well-known drugs like marijuana, heroin, and cocaine as CDS, but also the compounds used to manufacture them.

Marijuana laws in South Dakota are broken down into multiple segments, often based on varying amount of possession. These segments range in penalties from one-year incarceration and $1,000 in fines upwards to 15...

In South Dakota, adults can purchase a gun without a license. However, you must obtain a concealed handgun license to carry a concealed gun in your car or on (or near) your body, unless you are in your own home, business, or property. (S.D. Cod. Laws § 22-14-11.)